Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-07-29
AT THE CITY OF MEXICO.
Minister Manning's Reception. Ar
rival and Scenes at the Legation.

the capital gathered at the Y 3.
Legation on the evening OF July
7th. A bountiful repast had been
prepared for all and band OF
music was in attendance. MIR.
Manning wisely selected a large
and commodious mansion for his
residence, hence there was ample
room for the ball which formed a
very interesting part Of the recep,,
ton. There is a large front yerd
and flower garden in front of the
residence and a beautiful foun-
tain playing at all times. The
yard was beautifully lighted up
with paper lanterns and all guests
were met by servants at the door,
who received their hats, canes
and cloaks, after which they were
shown into the large reception
Dom, where they were welcomed
by Mr.. Manning in person. They
were then introduced to his wife
and daughter. None were over
looked or neglected and every one
felt quite at home and at ease. Mr..
Manning wore a full dress suit,
and in a quiet and easy way divid-
ed his time about equally among
all present. He is fine southern
type and possesses the faculty of
making all feel perfectly at home
and that with out stiff ceremonies
and formalities that make the rus
tic i'll at ease. Mrs. Manning is a
very sociable character and found
time to speak to all present. She
was dressed in black silk with q
heavy train gathered in large ruf.
fes. She expressed herself well
pleased with Mexico, but thought
the leading families rather too
formal and slow about making new
acouaintances.
Soon after our arrival our Con-
sui General, Mr. Moore. Of Mis-
souri, entered the reception room
to whom we also had an introduce
ton and found him just such a
plain, good old styled Missourian
as we have learned to admire
among the old Virginians. For
the sake of formality he wore a
pair of white kid gloves and full
dress suit, yet he is no dude, but
like the minister is thoroughly
United States and l believe he
would have felt more at home in
palmer clothes and without gloves
unless the climate and customs
demand something different. In
short he is plain social man that
will always take well among plain
honest people.
The reception room was beauti-
fully illuminated by number of
candelabra hung round with clus.
ters of prisms rejecting beautiful
colors in all parts of The room. The
carpets, furniture, paintings and
engravings were all in keeping
with the digity, and Democratic
simplicity of the country repre-.
sented. In fact all had an air of
simple beauty and general utility,
which true Americans always adj
mire.
The supper was set in a long
dining room where all repaired
about ten o'clock p. m. There was
all the country could furnish and
it, like other features, was truly
American. Great bouquets of flow
ers trimmed and bordeled with
perforated paper was set at regu-
lar intervals on the table; each
stand was encircled around the
wide rim with the choicest tropi-
cal fruits including pine apples, ba-
'nanas, mangos, oranges and many
others too numerous to mention.
Large white napkins were used,
such as one is not afraid to use,
lest he destroy their delicate tex
ture or entertain fear that it might
be used more for ornament than
utility. There was all that the
taste could desire with plenty of
wine and weaker drinks for all.
Servants stood at our elbow ready
and willing to supply our wants,
while on our right sat Mr.. W. NJ.
Edgar, an old soldier and officer
in all our wars since the Florida
Indian war. On our left sat Mr..
P. Fl. Wood formerly of Savannah
Georgia, now one of the popular
cotton merchants of Texas. Thus
most of the states wer represent
ed and the principal cities of the
Union including cultured Boston,
pious Brooklyn ard busy New
York, while Louisiana was repre-
sented by Mr.. Manning and his
wife, who sat at the head of the
table.
Thus the time past most agree
ably and wine flowed freely among
rank and age, youth and beauty.
Every one had something to say
to every one else, and all drank to
the health and happiness of all.
The banquet was true American
in name and spirit. After sup
per all returned to the reception
room where dancing began and
was kept up with but slight inter-